Manila won’t shut down city hospitals

MANILA, Philippines - The city government of Manila will not shut down its six public hospitals, Mayor Joseph Estrada said yesterday.

Estrada was reacting to claims by a health workers’ group, which called the alleged plan “cruel and heartless” since it will affect many poor patients who rely on the hospitals.

A surprised Estrada asked why the hospitals would be shut down.

He said that while the city government finds it “impractical” to maintain the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, Ospital ng Maynila, Ospital ng Sampaloc, Ospital ng Tondo, Sta. Ana Hospital and Justice Abad Santos Mother and Child Hospital, there are no plans to shut them down.

The hospitals are already there and the solution is to improve them, not close them, Estrada said. He added that the city government plans to add more equipment and upgrade the hospitals’ facilities.